He'll be comin' to Atlanta...

[Chattahooch33]

THEN:

NOW:

What is interesting is that if you look at the now the road is going down toward the railroad. In the now, it is ascending. That is because it is technically going up the bridge that is over the railroad now and the tracks are now underground.

 

[Chattahooch33]

I keep mentioning Underground Atlanta so I thought I'd show some pics.

UA became the "cool" place to hang out in the 70's but by the 80's it was an unsafe place to be. Recently it has came back and is cool to see.
The "road" in the pictures is the wartime Alabama St. which ran alongside the tracks and Union Depot. On the other side of the wall is the railroad tracks that now run under the upper roads and share a track with MARTA (Atlanta's mass transit subway thing."

 

[AUG]

View attachment 65608
This is in LoC just as ' Atlanta Street', I am more than sure members here know exactly which church this would have been?


Battlefield, Atlanta- only posting this in contrast to the amazing old buildings, how stark.
View attachment 65610

I was handed down the copy of my grgrgraunt's guide book for the Atlanta Cotton Exposition not a huge amount of years post-war. She was one of the representatives from New York. It's a great book- goes into the before/after on the war pretty intensely. You can't believe this city was once damaged at all much less economically challenged. The governor, mayor and various bigwigs give speeches which are recorded- gosh, you can see how proud they are of what Atlanta had become.

Everything I've seen indicates that that second photo is actually of Missionary Ridge looking from the Orchard Knob. Taken by George N. Barnard shortly after the battle.
For example: https://www.flickr.com/photos/smu_cul_digitalcollections/8170377727/in/set-72157631970465084

Here are a couple photos by Barnard of the Battle of Atlanta battlefield, just east of Atlanta. I'm not certain where the first was taken, but the second was possibly on Bald Hill.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/smu_cul_digitalcollections/8170407056/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/smu_cul_digitalcollections/8170378279/in/photostream/

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Ah ha! Thank you! That was misidentified in LoC, I can't remember if it's only the National Archives where the general public may sign in and add captions or if LoC does that also? They've become linked recently- you search around the Archives and end up at LoC. ( Worst ever search options ever on the planet- ever- National Archives ). Anyway, have never attempted the whole labeling thing because it seems a little high handed coming from a comparative beginner- knowing this is wrong, would add that information.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Also- I generally avoid those photos of slave auctions, ' pens ' and all the repulsive advertising from the trade but that photo is beyond price. The Union soldier guarding that place is an African American reading a book- tickles me every time I see it.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Since we're staying away from photos of Atlanta in unlovely conditions ( I like that ), bumped into this more recent photo- still past a 100 mark. It's a great old building, probably now with more modern university buildings grown around it?

Clark University 1907

 

[nitrofd]

THEN:

View attachment 65642


NOW:
It is important to remember that the modern road level is 20' higher than the 1864 level. The roads and plazas were built over the railroad. The tracks are still there but they are underground.
The picture was taken from the Forsyth Street bridge.


View attachment 65644

At least it still is a train station.

 

[18thVirginia]

Atlanta from the cupola of the Female Seminary, LOC

 

[Northern Light]

Also- I generally avoid those photos of slave auctions, ' pens ' and all the repulsive advertising from the trade but that photo is beyond price. The Union soldier guarding that place is an African American reading a book- tickles me every time I see it.

I often wonder if that was staged or just a coincidence. Which ever, it tells a tale!

 

[18thVirginia]

This is a great thread! My only complaint is that I am now singing "He'll be coming to Atlanta, when he comes, when he comes." Followed by " Hell be burning all the buildings" and " he'll be tying up the rails when he comes"...... ear worm for the day. Thanks!

"He'll be comin' to Atlanta...." is from "Gone With the Wind," from Mammy to Scarlett:

You know what trouble I's talkin' 'bout. I's talking 'bout Mr. Ashley Wilkes. He'll be comin' to Atlanta when he gets his leave, and you sittin' there waitin' for him, just like a spider. He belongs to Miss Melanie...

 

[18thVirginia]

Car Shed with U. S. Boxcars

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb...ederates/Atlanta/Car Shed with US Boxcars.jpg

 

[DR_Hanna]

I've seen the Auction and Negro Sales picture many times, but never noticed the odd damage to the roof just to the left of the roof peak. Looks like a cannon ball size hole to me.

 

[18thVirginia]

Since we're staying away from photos of Atlanta in unlovely conditions ( I like that ), bumped into this more recent photo- still past a 100 mark. It's a great old building, probably now with more modern university buildings grown around it?

Clark University 1907
View attachment 65693

Usually try to leave the photos of destruction until the end of the thread. You often see them in lots and lots of sources, but fewer photos of what the communities where people lived and worked looked like.

 

[18thVirginia]

View of Atlanta - Lard Oil Factory, LOC

 

[18thVirginia]

Atlanta Vicinity, View of Houses, Barnard, LOC

This may be south of the railroad, looking in a southerly direction out of town.

 

[18thVirginia]

Atlanta Church, LOC

"The church with the picket fence in the foreground is Trinity Methodist, constructed in 1854. It faced Mitchell Street just south of Atlanta City Hall [now Capitol Square]. The congregation was founded in 1853 in the next-door home of Martha and Green B. Haygood. Their son, Atticus G. Haygood, later president of Emory University, pastored this church in 1864. The basement served as safe storage for personal belongings when Atlanta residents were forced to leave the city. The Georgia Department of Transportation Building occupies the site today andTrinity Methodist is located at the southwest corner of Trinity and Washington Avenues." http://www.atlantapreservationcenter.com/Preserved_on_Glass

 

[18thVirginia]

Atlanta, 1864

Car shed at left is seen in other photos in this thread

 

[18thVirginia]

Union Army Soldier at Fortifications Outside of Atlanta

http://www.shorpy.com/node/1940

 

[Northern Light]

"He'll be comin' to Atlanta...." is from "Gone With the Wind," from Mammy to Scarlett:

You know what trouble I's talkin' 'bout. I's talking 'bout Mr. Ashley Wilkes. He'll be comin' to Atlanta when he gets his leave, and you sittin' there waitin' for him, just like a spider. He belongs to Miss Melanie...

Still stuck in my head, though! Arrgggg!

 

[18thVirginia]

Sept. 1. Thurs. We did not get home untill twelve o'clock. We had a very pleasant time and every thing seemed quiet. Directly after dinner Cousin Emma came down and told us that Atlanta would be evacuated this evening and we might look for the federals in the morning. It was not long till the hole town found it out and such excitement there was. We have ben looking for them all the evening but they have not come yet. Mr. came in to tell us that dear Cousin Henry was wounded and he thought he would not get well. We are so sory to here it. We loved him so much. I finished my stockings to day.

Sept. 2. Fri. We all woke up this morning without sleeping much last night. The Confederates had four engenes and a long train of box cars filled with amunition and set it on fire last night which caused a grate explosion which kept us all awake. It reminded us of the shells - of all the days of excitement we have had it to day. Every one has been trying to get all they could before the Federals come in the morning. They have ben running with saques of meal, salt and tobacco. They did act rediculous breaking open stores and robbing them. About twelve o'clock there were a few federals came in. They were all frightened. We were afraid they were going to treat us badly. It was not long till the Infantry came in. They were orderely and behaved very well. I think I shall like the Yankees very well.

Sept. 3. Sat. 1864. The soldiers have ben coming in all day. I went up to Aunties this morning and she said that she had a yankee officer to spend the night with her. We have not seen much of them. Only two of them have ben here to beg some thing to eat. We have had a rainy day and we all feel gloomy.

Sun. Sept 4. Another long and lonesome Sunday. How I wish we could have Church and Sunday School. We have ben looking at the soldiers all day. They have come in by the thousand. They were playing bands and they seemed to be rejoiced. It has not seemed like Sunday.

From the Diary of Carrie Berry, 10 year old resident of Atlanta
http://www.americancivilwar.com/women/carrie_berry.html